IHC's Cy LeClerc Named Rookie of The Year

By Josh Boyd, 03/10/20, 1:30PM EDT

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The Islanders Hockey Club struck gold with the signing last year of Cy LeClerc. The Brentwood, N.H., resident came in with a Division 1 commitment to the University of New Hampshire and a fire in his eyes.

After racking up 22 goals and 55 points in 50 regular season games, LeClerc was announced on March 10 as the NCDC Rookie Of The Year for 2019-20.

“It’s a great accomplishment,” said LeClerc, upon hearing the news. “I knew the NCDC was a great league. I didn’t know what type of skill levels the kids had, but after playing in the league, I saw it was a tough league and tough league in which to get a win.

“Cy has really focused in on developing his all around 200-foot game especially in the defensive zone,” added Islanders Head Coach Tim Kyrkostas. “He’s a great kid who worked so hard each and everyday. He’s so deserving of this recognition and I know he’s going to have a great NCAA career.”

LeClerc helped the Islanders to a fourth-place finish, thanks in large part to an 11-game winning streak that started with their first game of 2020.

“As a team, we just weren’t together [at the start], but we started picking it up and we went 18-2-2 down the stretch,” said LeClerc.

LeClerc came to the Islanders with the idea of being able to develop one more year towards a Tier-1 junior opportunity while attending (and in June, graduating from) his own school. And develop he certainly did.

“I learned the game a lot more this year than last year. The Islanders helped me get better in all three zones and get to know the game better,” said LeClerc. “Hopefully that helps me next year as I prepare to attend UNH in 2021-22.

“[The UNH coaches] thought it was a good idea to stay and play in the NCDC and succeed here, and move on to Tier-1 next year,” added LeClerc.

Before that, the Islanders have a Dineen Cup Playoffs in front of them, with the goal of reclaiming the Cup after winning it the first year of the NCDC in 2017-18.

“Knowing what playoffs are going to be like, and how hard you have to compete to win every game,” LeClerc added. “I hope it’ll help me at the next level and develop me even more towards being ready to go to UNH.”

The USPHL congratulates the 2019-20 NCDC Rookie Of The Year Cy LeClerc and wishes him and the Islanders Hockey Club the best of luck in the Dineen Cup Playoffs.